BLS wage data · State licensing boards

Is That Certification
Really Worth It?

Compare professional licensing requirements, costs, salaries, and career ROI across all 50 states — built on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and primary state licensing sources.

quiz Take the 2-minute quiz Browse by state arrow_forward

Not sure where to start? The quiz narrows 27 careers down to your 3 best matches.

27 careers · 50 states + DC · 1,377 data pages · BLS-sourced

Careers by category

Median salary, projected growth, and state-by-state licensing for each path.

health_and_safety

Healthcare

13 paths

Dental Hygienist

$94,260 median · +7.0% growth

chevron_right

Respiratory Therapist

$80,450 median · +12.1% growth

chevron_right

Radiology Technologist

$77,660 median · +4.3% growth

chevron_right

Surgical Technologist

$62,830 median · +4.5% growth

chevron_right

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

$62,340 median · +2.6% growth

chevron_right

Medical Coder

$50,250 median · +7.1% growth

chevron_right

Dental Assistant

$47,300 median · +6.4% growth

chevron_right

Medical Assistant

$44,200 median · +12.5% growth

chevron_right

Phlebotomist

$43,660 median · +5.6% growth

chevron_right

Pharmacy Technician

$43,460 median · +6.4% growth

chevron_right

EMT

$41,340 median · +5.1% growth

chevron_right

Paramedic

$41,340 median · +5.1% growth

chevron_right

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

$39,530 median · +2.3% growth

chevron_right

construction

Skilled Trades

8 paths

Plumber

$62,970 median · +4.5% growth

chevron_right

Electrician

$62,350 median · +9.5% growth

chevron_right

HVAC Technician

$59,810 median · +8.1% growth

chevron_right

Massage Therapist

$57,950 median · +15.4% growth

chevron_right

CDL Truck Driver

$57,440 median · +4.0% growth

chevron_right

Welder

$51,000 median · +2.2% growth

chevron_right

Barber

$38,960 median · +4.1% growth

chevron_right

Cosmetologist

$35,250 median · +5.6% growth

chevron_right

business_center

Professional & Business

6 paths

CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

$81,680 median · +4.6% growth

chevron_right

Paralegal

$61,010 median · +0.2% growth

chevron_right

Insurance Agent

$60,370 median · +3.7% growth

chevron_right

Real Estate Agent

$56,320 median · +3.1% growth

chevron_right

Personal Trainer

$46,180 median · +11.9% growth

chevron_right

Notary Public

—

chevron_right

Decision guides

Start with the big questions

Honest, data-backed answers to "which one's actually worth it?" — the questions program brochures won't touch.

All guides chevron_right

Localized salary & licensing

Certification value varies wildly by state. Licensing requirements, reciprocity, and wage levels shift the ROI calculation dramatically — every page covers state-specific rules with source links back to each state's licensing board.

Texas arrow_forward California arrow_forward Florida arrow_forward New York arrow_forward Ohio arrow_forward Illinois arrow_forward Georgia arrow_forward Pennsylvania arrow_forward North Carolina arrow_forward Michigan arrow_forward

public Browse all 50 states + DC

fact_check

Grounded in primary sources

No marketing pages. No affiliate links.

check_circle

BLS OEWS wage data

State-level median, percentiles, and employment pulled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
check_circle

State licensing boards

Hours, exams, fees, and reciprocity from each state's primary licensing authority — source URLs cited on every page.
check_circle

BLS Occupational Outlook

10-year job growth and annual-opening projections from the BLS Employment Projections program.

Read the full methodology arrow_forward

quiz Still deciding?

Get your top 3 matches in 2 minutes.

8 honest questions about your runway, temperament, and priorities. We match you with 3 certifications that actually fit — with median pay and training time on each card so you can scan and decide.

quiz Take the quiz arrow_forward